Florida Friday: Notes from the Sunshine State

The 2005-06 season got underway Tuesday night in Florida with six FCCAA teams taking the floor. A young but talented Polk Community College team defeated a much improved Brevard Community College 83-62 in Winter Haven. Freshman guard Joe Edwards led Polk with 26 points on the night.

In another battle between FCCAA teams, Pasco Hernando Community College held off St. John's River Community College 80-78. Leading the way for PHCC was freshman

Japan Ruise who had a game-high 21 points.

In other contests Miami Dade College defeated IMG Academy 113-54. All-American candidate Stuard Baldonado led the Sharks with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 steals. Also on Tuesday, Hillsborough Community College defeated MacDill Air Force Base 101-67. In Wednesday's action St. Petersburg defeated Central Florida

78-66. Big man Kenneth Williams led the way with 21 points for St. Pete against a depleted CFCC team which was missing its two best players, Darryl Monroe and Matt Fields. Also on Wednesday, Manatee Community College defeated IMG 84-66 and Indian River rolled past the adult Palm Beach County AAU team 120-68.

While most teams will be participating against non-member or out of state schools this week there are a couple of big intrastate games on the schedule. Polk will travel to Broward for a 2:00 Saturday game while FCCJ will play at Palm Beach Saturday night at 7:30. Broward will be led by Northeastern transfer Jamal Dart as big man Seydou Kone, who was being extremely highly recruited, may be out for the season with a torn Achilles.

FCCJ will lean on two outstanding freshmen, 6'11" center Kenie Freeman and 6'7" wing Ejike Hart, as they take on a very solid Palm Beach team. Other big matchups this week include Tallahassee hosting Coastal Georgia and Chipola playing host to South Georgia Tech. Check in next week for reports on these games.

Player of the Week: Stuard Baldonado 6'7" SO PF Miami Dade College

A pre-season All-American selection, and returning Southern Conference Player of the Year, Stuard Baldonado picked up right where he left off Tuesday night leading Miami Dade to a 113-54 win over IMG Academy.

Baldonado had a near triple-double with 18 points, ten rebounds, eight steals, four

assists, and two blocked shots. Baldonado currently has offers from and is considering between Georgia, Oregon State, FAU, Minnesota, UTEP, Purdue, and Northeastern.

Recruiting Updates: UTEP has received a verbal commitment from Tavaris Watts, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Hillsborough Community College. Watts, who plays alongside Ohio State commitment Othello Hunter, has great size and strength inside. 6-foot-3 guard Cedric Smith from Palm Beach has verbally committed to Georgia State. Smith, an extremely athletic guard who does a little of everything, is an absolute steal for the Panthers. FAU and new coach Matt Doherty continue to recruit the state very well picking up a commitment from Palm Beach point guard Tavarus Harris. The Owls will also have 6-foot-8 Palm Beach forward Jeff Palmer on campus this weekend.

Each Friday throughout the season, JucoJunction will post our weekly notebook from Florida's juco scene.